The body is harnessed to the brain. At the end of chapter 6, this is categorized as a problem. Our brains allow us to think, move, see, breath, and live in general. I think a brain without a body is nothing, and a body without a brain is nothing. Obvious point, but is this what Jacob is saying? "It's not catastrophes, murders, deaths, diseases, that age and kill us; it's the way people look and laugh, and run up the steps of omnibuses." (62) At first, this did not seem quite right to me. But I am going to attempt to rationalize this. I'm sure many of you are familiar with the saying: be careful what you think because thoughts turn into words; be careful what you say because your words turn into actions (and then actions to habits etc). Through this chain, one could link a brain to a flaw in a person's character. Perhaps rationalization is what kills people: the analyzation of the way people look and laugh, and run up the steps of omnibuses, and the attempts to draw conclusions about what goes on inside someone's head based on their words, actions, habits. The death is probably figurative in the respect that a person is not making good use of their time, they are not living if they are trying to rationalize and categorize everything. What are some other interpretations of this passage? - KLe-c Jan 13, 2008
Well, my interpretation of this passage was entirely different. My group studied chapter six today and we determined that it indicates that Jacob and Florinda had sex. Therefore, I believe that passage reveals the narrator's thoughts on the matter. It is written: "The problem is insolube. The body is harnessed to a brain. Beauty goes hand in hand with stupidity" (62). The first sentence implies that the sexual chemistry between people is unchangeable. The second is a Sigmund Fraud-esque statement, which implies that our primal, sexual desires completely control what we think, and, therefore, what we do as well. The third was a little troubling for me, but I think that it means that attraction can lead to something both participants will regret, because of their views of chastity. As for your quote, KLe, I think that it means that people's quest for pleasure kills them.
This post was awkward...I ask the illustrious Tim Ruddell, fellow group member, to back me up on this if I tripped over my own feet.- JHe-c Jan 15, 2008
Well, my interpretation of this passage was entirely different. My group studied chapter six today and we determined that it indicates that Jacob and Florinda had sex. Therefore, I believe that passage reveals the narrator's thoughts on the matter. It is written: "The problem is insolube. The body is harnessed to a brain. Beauty goes hand in hand with stupidity" (62). The first sentence implies that the sexual chemistry between people is unchangeable. The second is a Sigmund Fraud-esque statement, which implies that our primal, sexual desires completely control what we think, and, therefore, what we do as well. The third was a little troubling for me, but I think that it means that attraction can lead to something both participants will regret, because of their views of chastity. As for your quote, KLe, I think that it means that people's quest for pleasure kills them.
This post was awkward...I ask the illustrious Tim Ruddell, fellow group member, to back me up on this if I tripped over my own feet.-